Portable hooded hair moisturizer and dryer

ABSTRACT

A portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer which includes a base, a head supporting assembly, and a rigid head assembly. Most of the base, and the head mounting assembly nest in the head assembly. A steam-generator drawer is positioned in the head mounting assembly and is thus secured and protected within the nested enclosure during carrying and during storage.

@ir- LA United- States Patent. 191

Doyle al. [451 June 4, 1974 [541 PORTABLE HOODED HAIR MOISTURIZER 3,575,181 4/1971 Rudd 132/9 AND DRYER Inventors: Edward J. Doyle, Hatboro; Nial C.

Bartram, Lancaster, both of Pa.

Assignee:

Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 Appl. No.: 317,925

[1.8. CI. 132/9, 34/97 lnt, CL... A45d 1/00 Field of Search 132/9, 7; 34/96, 97, 101

References Cited UNITED STATES'PATENTS 3,550,285 12/1970 Omohundro 132/9 Schick Incorporated, Lancaster, Pa.

Primary Examiner-G. E. McNeill ABSTRACT steam-generator drawer is positioned in the head mounting assembly and is thus secured and protected within the nested enclosure during carrying and during storage. i

9 Claims, SDrawing Figures Barker 132/9 PORTABLE HOODED HAIR MOISTURIZER AND i *PRYER BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to hairdryers, and, more particularly, to portable combination hair moisturizers and dryers. The present invention can be regarded as an improvement over the portable hooded hair moisturizer and dryer disclosed and claimed in copending US. patent application, Ser. No. 299,839, filed Octf24, 1972, which patent application is owned by a common assignee with the present application.

The present invention relates to an improvement in those hair dryers having rigid dryer head assemblies which include portions thereof adapted to surround at least a part of thehead of the user and which are occasionally referred to in the trade as hard hat" hair dryers. A preferred embodiment of the presentinvention relates generallyto hair dryersof the type having the configuration of an articulated nestable fZ.

Hard hat dryers are. readily distinguishable from other types of dryers such as dryers having flexible bags or caps which surround the head of the user and which include a flexible hose-like conduit extending between the cap and a blower for heated air, and from dryers of the hand-held type, wherein no means are provided for surrounding any substantial portion of the head of the user. Although hair dryers of both the hand-held type and flexible cap type are proven acceptable to the trade, it is wellknown that hair dryers having the rigid dryer head or hood units are superior in use, principally because they are sufficiently rigid to contain a fixed mass, lack'of portability, and the requirement of using substantial amounts of electrical current.

The most preferred embodiment of the'present invention can also be regarded as an improvement over dryers which are disclosed in co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 299,763, filed Feb. 28, 1972 by Robert S. Waters, Edward 1. Doyle, Meryic K. Rogers, and Nial C. Bartram and assigned to a common assignee with the presentinvention. The hard-hat dryer disclosed in that patent application provides a head assembly and a base, each of which are respectively pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the head mounting assembly on parallel horizontal axes in such a manner that the head and the base assembly can be pivoted with respect to the head assembly to nest the base and head mounting assembly within the head assembly, or it can be opened into the general configuration of a 2" without requiring dismantling or separation and reassembly of the dryer.

In the dryers described in the aforementioned patent application, the head assembly included an upper shell disposed above, and about a generally annular plenum, and this shell is pivotally mounted on a separate horizontal axis to expand the volume generally enclosed by theannular plenum and shell assembly. The air heater .is located in the middle head support assembly. As indicated above, hard hat hair dryers have proven acceptable and are emminently satisfactory for use as dryers readily lend themselves for emminently satisfactory use by a user having a number of relatively large curlers in her hair at the time of use.

While it is not the purpose of the present discussion to elaborate in great detail on all the factors relating to the setting of curls in hair, or relating to the effects of moisture on the curling and setting of hair, it has been acceptedby the industry and by the consumer public that the best and longest-lasting hair setis obtained by washing the hair, putting it upin curlers wet, and drying it with a hardor soft bonnet typehair dryer. This method introduces the maximum, amount of moisture into the hair itself, imparting the maximum set and the longest-lasting'curl retention. Utilization of the An alternative method of setting hair which does not involve the washing step as a preliminary, is to provide the same step sequence with dry hair, using rollers with moisture available on the rollers to provide a quick set on drying. This method gives a lasting set of acceptable duration and is one of the quickest and most convenient to do. However, tests have shown that another alternative hair setting procedure which imparts a lasting set which is second in duration only to that achieved by the first procedure involving washing hair, putting it up in curlers wet, and drying it in a hair dryers, is that alternative method in which dry hair is rolled on curlers, moisturized by moisture-laden air mist mixture and then subjected to drying.

While it is not intended that the present invention be boundby, or limited to, any particular chemical theories, at least the following brief explanation of the presently accepted understanding of some of the physicalchemical factors involved in the hair setting phenomenon is deemed to be desirable. Some present authoritiesregard hair fiber as being made of molecular chains of atoms which are folded upon themselves much like accordian pleats. These authorities believe that some hydrogen bonding occurs between the molecules, and between different portions of the same molecules, and

that this bonding is responsible for the characteristic known as hair setting.-lt is well known that water softens hair and in some instances to such an extent that it can be stretched when totally wet up tolseveral times its initial length without breaking. Furthermore, there is no criticalpoint of full wetness which must be attained before the hair can be so influenced. The ability of hair to be stretech is reported to increase in proportion to the amount of water it has absorbed, either from liquid water, or from water vapor present in the arr.

Wetting or hydration of the hydrogen bonds referred to above releases the normal hydrogen bonding attachments within the hair fiber. As a result, moisturization will relax the hair molecular structure by causing the hydrogen bonds to release their hold, allowing the pleats to unfold and the molecules to change position and to bypass each other. One might visualize the hair as a resilient system of fibrous molecules packed together much like the fibers of a strang of hemp rope.

Under ambient conditions this system comprises a natural inter-molecular hydrogen bonding mixture of attached hydrogen bonds in equilibrium with some that are not attached. The ratio of the attached to unat- .tached bonds also depends in part on the number of available water molecules within the system. The greater the number of attached bonds (as in dry hair) the harder and stiffer is the system. As more ,of these hydrogen bonds become unattached (as in moisturized,

slide slightly along others. Both of these effects occur to reduce the tension stresses developed by bending the hair. In a similar way, the compression stress is also relieved and reduced. t

' If the hair is now held bent until dry, new hydrogen bonds reform automatically, but at new locations, such as to hold the hair in bent'position. Pleats are now held open, or more tightly closed, depending on their configuration at that particularportion of the hair strand when the hair is physically held in the desired curled configuration. Molecules that have shifted in position along others are now also held in their new location. The end result isa new curled configuration of the original hair with little or no molecular memory which would tend to cause the hair to return to its pre-setting configuration.

Thus, these physicabchemical explanations by the authorities assist in understandingwhy wet'ha'ir will produce the tightest or longest-lasting curls when dried on suitable curlers. Under these conditions, the greatest number of hydrogen bonds are affected, that is, re-

leased and then reformed. However, if hair is not totally wet, then some of thehydrogen bonds are not effected in the curling process, which leadsthem' to strain against those which were effected. This is part of the basis for the molecular mcmory" referred to above which generates internal forces which tend to return the hair to its original .pre-curl configuration. Such a situation produces looser or shorter-lasting curls. The more moisture applied at the inception of the curling process, the. more effective it is believed that it will be. Hot dry curlers can curl hair under certin conditions, but the curlsresulting will depend on the amount of moisture already in the hair at the start of the procedure- Such curls appear because of the drying out of the moisture produced new hydrogen bonds in configuration to hold the curl. However, these bonds will be constantly straining against bonds thatwere not previously broken, and against compressive or stretching forces that were not previously relieved, and, thus, the curls formed by the hot dry curlers will not remain as permanently. If moisture is added as in the hot wet curlers, or by means of a moisture-laden air-mist mixture, then more hydrogen bonding of the old configuration is released, relieving the internal molecular memory" I forces. Then. during re-drying, new hydrogen bonding occurs to provide a lasting set to the hair in the new curled configuration.

Thus, when some provision is made to moisturize the hair while it is physically maintained in curled condition, the hair need not be so completely dried out in order tomake a substantially longer-lasting curl.

It is generally regarded as undesirable to dry the hair too much, because the dryer the hair, the harder and less flexible it becomes, for the reasons outlined above. If hair can be curled adequately without the need to drive moisture out to a too dry" level, the resulting curl will be softer, and the hair in the curls will be more resilient and less liable to fracture during the final combing and arranging of the curls. In the final arranging andcombing, the hair receives the most severe mechanical abuse. If the hair is too dry at this time, it is more likely to fracture and produce split ends and broken hair shafts. lf sufficient moisture is retained in the curl during this stage, it is less brittle and more able to withstand mechanical abuse. it will, be appreciated, however, that whatever the true physical-chemical explanations or reasons for the emminently satisfactory results of the operation of the present invention, it is effective, and hence, the present disclosure is not dependent upon any particular theory or explanation as to the physical-chemical phenomenon within the hair itself.

It is an .important feature of the present invention to provide a portable means for effectively moisturizing hairwhile in curlers in conjunction with a portable hard-hat hair dryer.

The aforementioned US. Pat. application, Ser. No, 299,839 discloses a hard hat hair moisturizer and dryer, which utilizes a steam generating system comprising substantially closed water reservoir which is, as a practical'matter, substantially inaccessable to the user for the, purpose of removing scale, cleaning, light servicing, and the like.'The inaccessability of such reservoirs will have substantially no impact on the lengevity of the steam generating system if distilled water, water recovered from household dehumidifiers, or any other water having substantially no mineral or other solids content, is used.

Nonetheless, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to provide a hair moisturizer and dryer of the hinged Z hard hat type with which the usercan employ ordinary tap water, be it hard water or saltladen soft water for long useful life with minimal accumulation of salt, scale or-sludge in the boiler and reservoir. It would be highly desirable to provide a hair moisturizer and dryer of the hinged Z hard hat type which utilizes a water reservoir which is immediately accessable, and, in fact, removable from the hair moisturizer and dryer unit for safe rinsing, cleaning, light servicing orthe like.

' When soft water is boiled for vapor generation, the sodium chloride concentration of the residual water increases to very high levels as more of the water vaporizes and'a salt slush forms in the reservoir. When hard water is boiled for steam generation, minerals are insolubilized and the soluble and insoluble mineral concenthe reservoir is rinsed.

Although portable moisturizer-dryers having'vaporizer elements in a drawer have been available heretofore, these units suffered the disadvantage of having the drawer exposed and capable of separation from the unit while in the storage configuration. The undesirability of having a steam-generator drawer separate from the rest of the unit during storage, or while being carried about, or during travelling is deemed obvious. Also, electricalconnector blades typically extend from the rear of such drawers and there isa great risk that these blades will become bent whenever the drawer is separated and particularly if the drawer falls or drops free of the unit during travel. Also, the very feature which makes the drawer desirable, that is, the fact that it is readily removable for rinsing and simple servicing, increases the likelihood that the user will not completely insert the drawer after use and in preparation for storage. A partially inserted protruding d-raweris subject to greater risk of being struck and damaged during carrying.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair moisturizer and dryer of the hinge'r 2 hard hat type in which the steam-generator is provided in a removable drawer, which-the user can conveniently refill, and can conveniently rinse out after each use, and which is immediately accessable for light servicing to permit removal of scale and the like in a light service" operation which is characterized by its extreme simplicity; I l

It is a further object of the'present invention to provide a hair moisturizer and dryer having a water boiler in a drawer" which is characterized by the simplicity'of assembly and economy of manufacture.

.r In view of all the foregoing, it is-an object of the present invention'to provide a hair moisturizer and dryer having a configuration in which a head assembly thereof will occupy the necessary but minimal volume when the hair moisturizer and dryer is in a stored configuration, and yet in which the head'assemblycan be expanded automatically to provide adequate volume for use by a person having a'plurality of relatively large curlers, for example, which combination moisturizer and dryer also provides means for uniformly imparting stress-relieving moisture to the hair.

It is afurther object of the present invention to provide a portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer having an easily stored hinged Z" configuration, having means for generating and for providing uniform distribution of moisture vaporiand mist to the hair, which generating means are supported in the central headsupporting element of the hinged and which moisturizer and dryer has a water reservoir configuration such that it can be removed simply for rinsing and refilling, and servicing if necessary.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable hinged .Z hard hat moisturizer and dryer which includes means for providing penetrating water-moisture to all hairsurfaces, which means is mounted for long-lasting substantially trouble-free use, and which can be efficien'tly and economically assembled during manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hard hat hair dryer with moisturization means,

and also having air inpelling and heating means,

wherein the metal elements in blowing and heating means are not subjected to corrosive effects of the generated steam.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hard-hat'hair moisturizer and dryer in which hair internal stress is relieved by moisture, wherein the moisture is provided in the form of a concentrated mixture of vaporized water, in air, which mixture also contains" a fine mist of extremely tiny droplets, if desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair moisturizer and dryer which has the operating configuration of a nestable Z" and in which steam generating means are in a removable drawer which is easily attached to and carried in the intermediate headsupporting element, and in which the drawer is thus secured and shielded within the nested carrying and storage configuration.

These and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter are all achieved in accordance with the present invention which is described herein in connection with a particularly preferred embodiment, and with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

i FIGQI is a perspective front view of a hair moisturizside view of the drawer-related elementsshown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, except that, in FIG. 4, the drawer is showninserted and seated in operating position. FIG. 5- is across-sectional view taken approximately along the line 5-5 of FIG.'4. t 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Althoughit will be understood that the invention may be embodied in a number of different forms, the description thereof will be made with reference to a preferred embodiment wherein ahead assembly, which includes a movably mounted cover surrounding a generally annular plenum'and an air flow control system is mounted for pivotal movement about a portion of a plenum disposed atop the head mounting unit, the lower portion of which also includes an impeller and a motor housing and which is pivotally attached to a base unit. In the preferred construction, air is taken in through openings in the base, and is directed bythe impeller upwardly through the head support element past a heater in the head mounting unit for distributing about the periphery of the head within the annular plenum and vents outwardly from the interior of the head I under the control of the adjustable cover vents. In this preferred embodiment, the head support element is longitudinally divided by a separating wall into a channelthrough which the impeller-moved air flows, and into a second compartment in which a steam generating element'is housed. In accordance withthe present invention, the steam-generating element is located in a drawer which can be removed from its housing located in thehead support element by the user forrefilling, or for rinsing. In the preferred embodiment, the drawer is housed in an enclosure which, along with associated steam conduits, is readily inserted into the head support element and supported therein by the mating of portions of the'steam generating unit and the head support assembly housing. For storage and transportation,

the cover or shellportion of the head is moved dowm of the head mounting assembly. are enclosed between the head assembly and the head mounting assembly when the unit is in nested storage configuration, and

that the drawer of the steam generator, which, in accordance with the present invention is positioned onthis portion of the head mounting assembly, secured and shielded whenever theunit is in the nested'carrying and storage configuration.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a hair moisturizer-dryer in accordance with the present invention generally designated having a head assembly 22 fpivotally' mounted atop a head mounting assembly 24.-- The lower portion of head 'mounting assembly 24 forms an impeller housing 26 re-.

ceived within a base. unit 28. The head assembly 22 in- .cludes an upper coveror shell portion 30, and the exterior wall portion 32 of a somewhat elongated generally annular drying air distribution plenum 34 having a plurality of radially inwardly directed openings 36-36 therein. V'apor can be discharged through the openings 37-37 in horizontal plenum 63. The base assembly 28. includes a pair of legs 38 each'having a louvered annular inlet opening 40 for fresh air-and each having a tray assembly 42 associated therewith for receiving pins, curlers, or thelike. A base plate 43 covers substantially .the entire bottom of the base assembly. The front wall 44 of the base assembly 28 includes an edge portion 46 of reduced height, permitting the neck portion 48 of the head mounting unit 24 to be placed in various positions with respect thereto. l

The hair moisturizer and dryer of the present invention is also an improvement of the portable hair dryers which are disclosed in co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 229,763, owned by the common assignee of the present invention, and the details of the construction of the head assembly 20, the base 28 and the pivotal articulation means by which head assembly 20,

head mounting assembly 24 and base 28 are pivoted tion, and it is believed unnecessary that this discussion be repeated herein since the features do not relate to the novel aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, all of the details of that discussion are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Suffice it to say, however, that impeller housing 26 includes an electric motor (not shown), connected to electrical supply cord 50.

Head support element 24 is divided into two generally vertically extending portions thereof comprising a right-hand portion 52 and a left-hand portion 54, as viewed from the front as in FIG. 1'. Right-hand portion 52 is defined by the right-hand housing 56 and lefthand portion 54 is defined by housing 58. Neck portion 48 of head mounting assembly 24 includes avertically extending plate 60 positioned in thevertical mid-plane between right and left-hand housing elements 56, 58

wherein mounting plate 60 is substantially imperforate, and extends from lower wall 62 upwardly, except for a circular opening corresponding to horizontal plenum portion 63 defined by the wall 64 defining the horizontal portion 63 of annular plenum 34 within head support element 24. Thus, the neck portion 48 of head support element 24 is vertically divided into a left hand side in which neck portion 48 is hollow and provides an air conduit between impeller housing 28 and plenum portion 63. Neck portion 48 is also divided into a compartment 66 which is defined by right-hand housing 56, lower wall '62, and upper annular wall 64. Plenum portion'63 of headsupport 24 is continuous and extends from side to side of head support 24.

ltisin compartment 66 that a moisturizer, generally indicated by the numeral 70 in accordance with the present invention is positioned. Moisturizer 72 is essentially a boiler and comprises the drawer assembly generally indicated by the numeral 72, drawer housing 74, and vapor conduit 76 are related electrical services as discussed hereinafter.

Vapor conduit 76 includes a grooved end portion 78 which mates with a closely fitting recess 80 in annular conduit wall 64, with the result that outer face 82 of end portion 78is situated at the mid-plane. (see FIGS.

.2 and 3.) Drawer housing 74 likewise includes a facing portion 84 having grooves 86 around three sides thereof which are adapted to mate with closely fitting edges 88 which define recess 89 in rear wall 90. (See FIGS. 3 and 4.) It is noted that facing portion84 includes an exposed fourth edge 92 which resides along the mid-plane also, when the moisturizer assembly 70 is properly positioned. 1

.Theinterior of drawer housing 74 is continuous with: the interior ofvapor conduit 76, and the interior vapor conduit 76 is continuous with the horizontal plenum portion 64 in head mounting assembly 24.

Referring now specifically to F IG. 3, drawer assembly 72 is shown in the withdrawn and separated position for'the purpose of clarifying and simplifying the illustration. Drawer assembly 72 includes a drawer 94 having front facing element 95 generally indicated by the numeral 95 having a recessed front surface 96 and an overhanging drawer pull 98. Facing element 95 includes flange-like lateral extensions 100 around its perimeter, and these engage the front of facing portion 84 of drawer housing 74 to assist in providing a seal, or at least a tortuous restricted path to minimize the escape of water vapor during operation.

The recess wall 96 can be regarded as a front" wall of the interior 102 of drawer 94. Drawer 94 also includes a bottom 104, sidewalls 106, 108, rear wall 110, a pair of bosses 112, 112 extending upwardly from bottom 104 and a pair of ribs 114, 114 extending frontwardly from rear wall 110. Bosses 112-112 have respective centrally located recesses 116-116 extending downwardly fromthe respective tops thereof. Drawer 94 also includes a pair of posts 118, 118 extending upwardly from bottom 104, said posts 118, 118 having respective fastener-receiving recesses 120, 120 extending downwardly from the upper face thereof. Drawer assembly 72 also includes three electrical connectors comprising open plate electrodes 122, 124 and indicator probe-connector 125.

Each electrode 122, 124 is a mirror image of the other, and is formed from 21 identical blank and includes an upper sidewardly extending connector blade 112-112 and downwardly into and seat in respective recesses 116-116 in bosses 112- 112. Spatter plate 137 extends transversely across the mid-section of the drawer and is secured, along with anchor tabs 130-130, by fasteners 138-138 to posts 118, 118. Spatter plate 137 has a large number of perforations 1'40, 140. I

Respective shank portions 108-108 are positioned to abutt against respective front edges 140-140 of respective ribs 114, 114. Thus, the two fasteners 138-138 secure all elements 122, 124, 137 related to heat development in drawer 94, and each electrode 112, 124 are firmly anchored as a result ofjthe cooperabetween its shape and location of seated surfaces. It

is seated along bottom and rear edges and anchored there by fasteners 138-138 in its middle region.

Referring now to electrical elements on drawer housing 74, side wall electrical connector 125 includes a downwardly extending blade 142 and is shaped-to include adetent'l44 which extends into a recess 143 (see FIG. in side.wall 106and an upper invertedU clip 146 andan outer leaf spring contact 148.

.Blades 126,126 engage resilient contacts 150-151 which are secured to housing 74 by fasteners such as rivets 152-152. (F or. the purpose, of clarifying the illustration of FIG. 4, cont'act 151 is shown only above the right-hand side' drawer contact 126, and housing contact 150 is removed from above the drawer blade 126 at the left-hand side'of FIG. 4).

Since resilient "contacts 150-151 are merely deflected upward bycontact blades 126, 126, push-pull forces on blades 126-126 areminimized. Any pushpull forces exerted on connector blades 126, 126 are exerted in a direction parallel to the plane of shank 128 and electrode blade 124, and any tendency for blades 122, 124 to pivot around its anchorage by. fasteners 138, 138 is immediately resisted by the edge seating of 1 bottom and rear against drawer 94.

Electrical housing contacts. 150-151 are positioned in a frontwardly extending projection 152 of housing 74 near the top of housing 74. This permits connector blades 126, 126 to be. dimensioned to reside substantially within the perimeter of drawer 94, and eliminates the need for overhanging positioning of connectors with attendant exposure to physical contacts which can easily result in their deformation or other abuse. Similarly, electrical contacts 148,154 are positioned in respective recesses to present minimal portions beyond the perimeter of'their respective mounting structures to minimize damage and physical abuse.

Similarly, an electrical housing contact 154, shown in the form of a rivet, passes through theside wall 156 of a housing 74 through the inner wall 158 within recess 160 in side wall 156. Suitable electrical connection means 162 engages rivet-contact 154. (See FIG. 5.)

Insulated conductors 163, 164 respectively energize contact 150 and switch 166 respectively. Switch 166, in turn, controls the flow of electrical current through indicator light lead 168 and through vaporizer elec:

trode lead 170 which connects to resilient contact 151. Indicator light lead 168 is electrically connected'to indicator light 172, andthe electrical circuit through light 172 includes sensor lead 174 which is electrically connected to sensor attachment 162.

OPERATION The user can engage drawer pull 98 to withdraw drawer. assembly 72 from drawer housing 74 as illus trated in FIG. 3, and tap water 176 is added to the interior 102 of drawer 94. It is recommended that, to prevent mechanically entraining of droplets of nonvaporized water, waterbe added to such an extent that the water level does not coverspatter pltate 137. The drawer is then re-inserted into housing 174 to be closely received therein as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein blades126, 126 engage respective .resilient contacts 150, 151 and wherein resilient contact 148 at the side of drawer assembly 72 engages indicator contact rivet 154. Thereupon, the user can adjust switch 166 to a mist position whereupon electrodes 122, 124. are energized.

There is normally sufficient electrically conductive mineral content in tap water to facilitate the heatin of the water due to. the carrying of electrical current therethrough between electrodes 122, 124. However, should the tap water source be so deficient in electrically conductive minerals, or should distilled water be used so that the particular water employed does not conduct sufficient electricity to cause water 176 to be heated, a pinch of sodium bicarbonate can be added to the water 176 to initiate the operation.

Under normal conditions, the water is heated rapidly and will commence to boil vigorously causing water vapor to discharge vigorously throughconduit 76 into horizontal portion 63 of conduit 34 within horizontal conduit 63. In the preferred embodiment, hot air is not forced through the other half 54 of head mounting assembly 24 while water vapor is being generated, but a chimney effect" caused by vertical temperature differentials caused by the hot temperature of the water vapor, causes at least some air to rise through the other portion 54 to help sweep the water vapor through th head assembly 22. Upon insertion of filled drawer assembly 72 into housing 74, and providing switch 166 is adjusted to the mist position, electrical current also passes through water 176 between sensor blade 126 and electrodes 122, 124, thereby completing the indicator light circuit, indicating to the user that the vaporgenerator is in operation. Mist can normally be seen to a point closely spaced-apart from bottom 104. The

positioning of blades 134, 134 in a vertical rather than horizontal plane makes it possible to continue operation until the level of water 176 is -'very shallow.

The length of sensor blade 126 is sized so that the blade 126 reaches below the lowermost reach of electrodes 122, 124. Thus, as soon as the water level is de- 3 11 pressed below the reach of the electrodes 122, 124, it is nolonfger possible for the indicator circuit to function inasmuch as that portion of the indicator circuit within drawer 74 has a gap. Thus, even though the control switch'be in the mist adjustment, the indicator light will go off as soon as the vapor generation has stopped because of insufficient water. The user can, at any time, conveniently withdraw drawer assembly 72, discard the residual water and concentrated minerals therein, rinse drawer 94 and refill to a level below spatter plate 137, at which point the entire mist cycle can be repeated.

Upon completion of operation by the user, the drawer assembly 72 is withdrawn and residual water is discarded, and drawer 94 is rinsed prior to its return to housing'74 for storage.

When-the dryer 20 is nested for storage, drawer assembly 72 is confined in the'region between the head assembly 22 and base assembly 28, rendering it impossible to separate the drawer assembly 72 from dryer 20 while transported or stored. I

For light servicing, only two screws 138-138 need be removed and the surfaces of all elements within drawer 94 are made accessible and can be cleaned and scraped.

in addition to the electrical elements referred to herein, further electric refinements, which are outside the scope of the inventive concept to which this application is directed, can be added, if desired.v For example, a tip-over switch 'which can shut off electrical power within the unit whenever the unit is tipped over, etc., can be added,'but such additions are not within the scope of the present invention and will not be described herein.

ACHIEVEMENT Thus, in accordance with the present invention,.a portable moisturizer and dryerisprovided havinga drawer-vaporizer'which is securely confined, and nonsepar able from the dryer when the dryer is in carrying or storage configuration.

ln accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hard hat dryer having the configuration of a nestable hinged Z isprovided having this steam-generating means in'a drawer which can be removed by the user'when the dryer is in an operating configuration and having means for changing the configuration of the dryer to a storage or transporting configuration in which some part of the dryer obstructs removalof the drawer from its respective housing.

Other important features of the present invention involve the particularconstruction of the steam generating elements in the electrode drawer, and the construction relationship between the drawer and its housing.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and alterations can be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention, and that embodiments described in detail herein are provided for illustration purposes and not to limit the invention. The scope of the invention'is to be determined from the claims appended hereto. For example, it is to be understood that the vapor generator system 70 can be mounted in the front wall 178 of head support element 24 of dryer 20 without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or can be mounted in any of the walls of head-mounting assembly 24 and still be secure, and be shielded from external physical abuse while the dryer is in the storage configuration provided the drawer 22 is confined within the region between base 28 and head assembly 22, or provided at least that the withdrawal of the drawer 72 from housing 74 is obstructed by someportion of base 28 or head assembly 22 when dryer 20 is in storage configuration. Also, as an alternative embodiment, base plate 43 can be abbreviated to overlay and obstruct only a portion of drawer 74 when the dryer 20 is in storage configuration and such an arrangement is entirely within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Many other modifications can be made in the moisturizer-dryer configuration of the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A portablecombination hair moisturizer and dryer comprising, in combination: a base assembly, a head support assembly, and a rigid head assembly, said assemblies being arranged in an articulated nestable ,Z" configuration whereby said-dryer may be arranged in an operating-position with said head assembly elevated from 'a supporting surface, or in a storage position with said head assembly overlying said base and head support assemblies, and which further comprises steam When the dryer is in the nested storage configuration, in which the head mounting assembly 24 is pivgenerating means including a drawer-shaped reservoir, said drawer-shaped reservoir being mounted in said dryer so as to be removable therefrom only when the dryer is in an operating configuration, the path of said drawer-shaped reservoir being obstructed to prevent said head assembly when said dryer is in an operating configuration; said dryer further comprising means for positioning said head support assembly within said head assembly in a region between said base assembly and said head assembly when said dryer is in a storage configuration; said dryer including steam generating means including adrawer-shaped reservoir, said drawer-shaped reservoir being removably mounted in said head mounting assembly whereby said drawer-shaped reservoir is confined within said head mounting assembly in the region between said base assembly and said head assembly when said dryer is in said storage configuration, separation of said drawer from said head mounting assembly being prevented by a member selected from the group consisting of said head assembly and said base assembly. 1 4. The portable combinationhair moisturizer and dryer of claim 3 in which said base assembly and said rigid head assembly are pivotally attached to said head support assembly at respective opposite ends of said head support assembly, wherein said dryer has the configuration of anestable Z, and in which said drawershaped reservoir is mounted into said head support assemblyin the wall thereof which faces said base assembly when said dryer is in said storage configuration, and in which saidbaseobstructs the path of at least a portion of said drawer from separation from said head support element when said dryer is in said storage configuration v v 5. The' portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 3 in which said base assembly and said rigid head assembly are pivotally attached to said head support assembly, at opposite ends thereof, and in which said head support assembly is formedfrom opposing elongated cup-shaped housing elements which meet at a longitudinallyextending mid-line,.one of said cap-shaped elements having a recess extending later- Zl'rly from said, mid-line; said drawer-shaped reservoir being mounted in. said housing in a separate drawer housing enclose having a facing element which is adapted to be closely received in said recess, said facing element having mating means around its perimeter for meeting with portions of said housing element defining said recess, to secure said drawer housing to said head support assembly housing,

: 6. The combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 5 in whichthe end of said head support assembly to which said rigid head assembly is pivotally mounted includes a horizontally extending plenum portion, and means for connecting said plenum portion with said head assembly, said moisturizer and dryer also including conduit means extending from said drawer housing and communicating directly with said plenum portion.

7. A portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer which includes a base, a head support assembly, and a rigid head assembly, said head support assembly being pivotally mounted in said base and including an air impeller housing-at the lower end thereof, said impeller housing having supported therein a centrifugal blower having an axis of rotation; said base including air intake means communciating with said blower and positioned axially with respect to the axis of rotation of said blower, said pivot means having an axis of pivot which coincides with said axis of rotation of said blower; said head mounting assembly including elongated conduit means extending therethrough for directing impeller means for generating steam and electrical switch means forcontrolling said steam generating means; heating means mounted in said head mounting assembly for heating impeller-driven air passing therethrough, and switch means for controling said impeller and said heater means; said head support assembly also including a horizontal plenum at the top end thereof, said horizontal plenum communicating with said elongated conduit means and with said head assembly; conduit means for directing steam generated by said steam generating means for discharge directly into said horizontal plenum at the top of said head mounting assembly, and means for nesting that portion of the head mounting assembly having said drawertherein between said base and said head assembly in a storage configuration.

8. combination hair moisturizer and dryer comprising: a drawer adapted to receive water and to contain boiling water; said drawer being removable by a user;

steam-generating means in said drawer including apair of spaced-apart electrodes positioned to be immersed in said water and having respective electrical contact means for making electrical connection, thereto; drawer housing into which the drawer is inserted for generation of steam; said housing means having a projection, extending from the rear. wall thereof towards the front of said drawer and including electrical connection means adapted for electrically connecting with the said electrical contact means'of respective electrodes in said drawer, said electrodes being generally situated in planes whichare upwardly extending and parallel to the direction of insertion and withdrawal of said drawer into said drawer housing; said electrical contact means having respective rearwardly extending electrical connector blades adapted to mate with the respective housing connectors, said rearwardly extending contact means being positioned substantially .entirely within the perimeter of said drawer.

9. The combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 8 in, which the electrodes are formed from a single sheet of conducting metal, and in which the respectiveelectrodes include a pair of submerged plate portions thereof, a laterally extending offset portion thereof, and a vertically extending shank portion thereof, said rearwardly extending contact means extending from said shank portion; and in which a portion of each of the electrodes is supported at the lower edge of said blade, and at the rearward edge of said shank portion by abuttment with adjacent portions of said drawer, and in which said electrodes are secured with respect to the bottom of the drawer by means of fixed attachment of a tab extending laterally from a generally mid portion of said electrode to a projection extending upwardly from the bottomof said drawer.

TED STATES PATENT OFFICE "I QETFFECATE 9F QUECTEQN Patent No. 3,814,111 Dated June 4, 1974 h flg Edward J, Doyle and Nial C. Bartram n z?- I I k It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 22, "hinger" should be -hinged-= Column 5, line 64, "inpelling" should be-- impelling- Column 6, line 49 "distributing" should be --distr:ib ution- Column 9 lines 22 and 23, "cooperabetneen" should be cooperation b etnr een- Colunm 10, line 14, "pltate" should be --plate Column 10, line 43, "th" should be the-- Column 14, line 28, after "housing" insert means-- Signed and sealed this 11th day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

c. MARSHALL DANN' RUTH C. FASON 1 Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 7 and Trademarks FORM PC4050 floss) USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 t U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 559 S65-334' UNITEo STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECT- CN- Patent No. 3,814,111 Dated June 4, 1974 g Invehtor(s) g1 Edward J. Doyle and Nial C. Bartram l 3f n k It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 22, "hinger" should be hinged- Column 5, line 64, "inpelling" should beimpelling- Column 6, line 49 "distributing" should be -distJ;ibution-- Column 9 lines 22 and 23, "cooperab etween" should b e cooperation between-- Column 10, line 14, "pltate" should be --plate- Column 10, line 43, "th" should be -the-- Column 14, line 28, after "housing" insert --means Signed and sealed this 11th day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

' C. MARSHALL DANN' RUTH C. NASON 1 Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks FORM PC4050 (10-69) USCOMNMDC e376 p6g u.s. sovmuuzmnm'rmc omcs: as o-ass-au, 

1. A portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer comprising, in combination: a base assembly, a head support assembly, and a rigid head assembly, said assemblies being arranged in an articulated nestable ''''Z'''' configuration whereby said dryer may be arranged in an operating position with said head assembly elevated from a supporting surface, or in a storage position with said head assembly overlying said base and head support assemblies, and which further comprises steam generating means including a drawer-shaped reservoir, said drawer-shaped reservoir being mounted in said dryer so as to be removable therefrom only when the dryer is in an operating configuration, the path of said drawer-shaped reservoir being obstructed to prevent removal of said drawer while said dryer is in said storage position.
 2. The portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 1 in which said drawer-shaped reservoir is mounted in said head support assembly.
 3. A portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer comprising, in combination: a base assembly, a head support assembly and a rigid heat assembly, said head support assembly extending generally upwardly between, and being connected to, said base assembly and said head assembly when said dryer is in an operating configuration; said dryer further comprising means for positioning said head support assembly within said head assembly in a region between said base assembly and said head assembly when said dryer is in a storage configuration; said dryer including steam generating means including a drawer-shaped reservoir, said drawer-shaped reservoir being removably mounted in said head mounting assembly whereby said drawer-shaped reservoir is confined within said head mounting assembly in the region between said base assembly and said head assembly when said dryer is in said storage configuration, separation of said drawer from said head mounting assembly being prevented by a member selected from the group consisting of said head assembly and said base assembly.
 4. The portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 3 in which said base assembly and said rigid head assembly are pivotally attached to said head support assembly at respective opposite ends of said head support assembly, wherein said dryer has the configuration of a nestable ''''Z'''', and in which said drawer-shaped reservoir is mounted into said head support assembly in the wall thereof which faces said base assembly when said dryer is in said storage configuration, and in which said base obstructs the path of at least a portion of said drawer from separation from said head support element when said dryer is in said storage configuration.
 5. The portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 3 in which said base assembly and said rigid head assembly are pivotally attached to said head support assembly at opposite ends thereof, and in which said head support assembly is formed from opposing elongated cup-shaped housing elements which meet at a longitudinally extending mid-line, one of said cup-shaped elements having a recess extending laterally from said mid-line; said drawer-shaped reservoir being mounted in said housing in a separate drawer housing enclose having a facing element which is adapted to be closely received in said recess, said facing elemeNt having mating means around its perimeter for meeting with portions of said housing element defining said recess, to secure said drawer housing to said head support assembly housing.
 6. The combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 5 in which the end of said head support assembly to which said rigid head assembly is pivotally mounted includes a horizontally extending plenum portion, and means for connecting said plenum portion with said head assembly, said moisturizer and dryer also including conduit means extending from said drawer housing and communicating directly with said plenum portion.
 7. A portable combination hair moisturizer and dryer which includes a base, a head support assembly, and a rigid head assembly, said head support assembly being pivotally mounted in said base and including an air impeller housing at the lower end thereof, said impeller housing having supported therein a centrifugal blower having an axis of rotation; said base including air intake means communciating with said blower and positioned axially with respect to the axis of rotation of said blower, said pivot means having an axis of pivot which coincides with said axis of rotation of said blower; said head mounting assembly including elongated conduit means extending therethrough for directing impeller driven air to said head assembly; drawer housing means mounted in said head mounting assembly; a removable drawer in said drawer housing, said drawer having means for generating steam and electrical switch means for controlling said steam generating means; heating means mounted in said head mounting assembly for heating impeller-driven air passing therethrough, and switch means for controling said impeller and said heater means; said head support assembly also including a horizontal plenum at the top end thereof, said horizontal plenum communicating with said elongated conduit means and with said head assembly; conduit means for directing steam generated by said steam generating means for discharge directly into said horizontal plenum at the top of said head mounting assembly, and means for nesting that portion of the head mounting assembly having said drawer therein between said base and said head assembly in a storage configuration.
 8. A combination hair moisturizer and dryer comprising: a drawer adapted to receive water and to contain boiling water; said drawer being removable by a user; steam-generating means in said drawer including a pair of spaced-apart electrodes positioned to be immersed in said water and having respective electrical contact means for making electrical connection thereto; drawer housing into which the drawer is inserted for generation of steam; said housing means having a projection extending from the rear wall thereof towards the front of said drawer and including electrical connection means adapted for electrically connecting with the said electrical contact means of respective electrodes in said drawer, said electrodes being generally situated in planes which are upwardly extending and parallel to the direction of insertion and withdrawal of said drawer into said drawer housing; said electrical contact means having respective rearwardly extending electrical connector blades adapted to mate with the respective housing connectors, said rearwardly extending contact means being positioned substantially entirely within the perimeter of said drawer.
 9. The combination hair moisturizer and dryer of claim 8 in which the electrodes are formed from a single sheet of conducting metal, and in which the respective electrodes include a pair of submerged plate portions thereof, a laterally extending offset portion thereof, and a vertically extending shank portion thereof, said rearwardly extending contact means extending from said shank portion; and in which a portion of each of the electrodes is supported at the lower edge of said blade, and at the rearward edge of said shank portion by abuttment with adjacent portions of said drawer, and in which said electrodeS are secured with respect to the bottom of the drawer by means of fixed attachment of a tab extending laterally from a generally mid-portion of said electrode to a projection extending upwardly from the bottom of said drawer. 